Capless can detecting and turning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A detector arm is pivotally mounted on a supporting frame above a row of cans traveling on a conveyor. The arm is movable upwardly and downwardly and carries a detent and a detecting wheel which rides over the caps on cans while keeping the arm raised. When a capless can is encountered, the arm is in its lowered position and the detent tips and turns over the can for ejection from the conveyor. An auxiliary detent is provided on the frame to turn over a capless can which has been tipped by the first detent.

United States Patent Lane I 1 Dec.4,1973

[ CAPLESS CAN DETECTING AND TURNING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Henry G. Lane, 3816 Avenue Q N.W., Winter Haven, Fla. 33880 [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 324,510

[52] US. Cl..... 209/73, 209/74, 209/91 [51] Int. Cl. B07b 13/04 [58] Field of Search 209/73, 88, 90, 91, 209/74 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,051 8/1944 Braucher.... 209/88 R 3,053,387 9/1962 Foss et a1 209/90 2,711,821 6/1955 Huntar et al.. 209/90 UX 2,745,548 5/1956 Schroeder 209/90 X Shields 209/90 Wideman 209/91 Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Attorney-Munson H. Lane et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A detector arm is pivotally mounted on a supporting frame above a row of cans traveling on a conveyor. The arm is movable upwardly and downwardly and carries a detent and a detecting wheel which rides over the caps on cans while keeping the arm raised. When a capless can is encountered, the arm is in its lowered position and the detent tips and turns over the can for ejection from the conveyor. An auxiliary detent is provided on the frame to turn over a capless can which has been tipped by the first detent.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENVEDEC 4 75 .j 3.776.377

sum 20F 4 PAIENTEBUEC 41975 saw u 0F 4 1- CAPLESS CAN DETECTING AND TURNING APPARATUS This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can handling machinery, and in particular the invention concerns itself with the handling of cans which have their top co'veredby a removable plastic cap.

Many products, especially'food products such as coffee, juices, shortening, et cetera, are packed in metal cans which have a sealed top, and it has becomes customary to place a plastic cap over the top of the can so that when the can is opened by removing its top, the plastic cap may be used as a closure for the can to protect the contents against spilling or spoiling. During processing the cans travel on a conveyor belt while they are being filled and sealed and while the plastic cap is applied thereto after sealing. However, it occasionally happens that the cap applying machine misses a can and the capless can continues down the conveyor line. It is therefore necessary to employ an inspector to watch for cans with missing caps, which is a tedious and an expensive procedure.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple apparatus for detecting capless cans and turning them over from a standing to a lying position on the conveyor, this being done automatically as the cans pass the apparatus so that the need for manual inspection is completely eliminated. The turned over capless can may be ejected from the conveyor and returned to the capping machine.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent asthis specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the capless can detecting and turning apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left of FIG. 1; j

FIG. 3 is side elevational view, taken from the side opposite to that in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1 but showing a capless can beingtipped by the apparatus.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the apparatus of the invention comprises a supporting frame which is adapted to be suitably mounted alongside a'can conveyor C, such as a conveyor belt, or

the like, the mounting being effected, for example, by a suitable bolt 31. The frame is adjustable and includes detent pin is biased downwardly by a spring 4 reacting between the arm 12 and a bracket adjustably posiand has a screw-threaded upper end portion equipped with nuts 8 which are engageable with the bracket 2,'

the nuts 8 permitting the downward travel of the rod 9 and of the arm 12 to be adjusted as desired.

The free outer end of the extension 14 carries a support 15 for art auxiliary detent pin 19 which is slidably mounted in the support. The downward travel of the detent pin 19 is adjustably limited by a plurality of washers 18 provided on the upper end portion of the pin. The lower end portion of the pin 19 is screwthreaded and carries a pair of nuts 22 between. which is secured the detent, proper, indicated at 20. Also secured between the nuts 22 is one end of a guide wire 21, the other end portion of which passes slidably through a slot formed between the support 15 and a wire 17 which is secured to that-side of tee support by w the screws 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates cans 33, 34 traveling with the conveyor C in the direction of the arrow D..As shown in the instance of the can 34, each of the cans has a closed top 41 with an upwardly projecting annular. rim 42. A removable plastic cap 33A has been applied to the top of the cans 33 by the usual capping machine (not shown), but the machine has omitted to apply such a cap to the can 34.

In operation, when a can such as the can 34 equipped with the cap 33A travels with the conveyor in the direction D, it first encounters the wheels or rollers 23 which ride up on top of the cap33A, thus raising the detector arm l2as well as the detent pin 7. The arm and the detent pin continue to be raised while the wheels 23 roll a bottom portion 29 and an upper portion 13 with a bearing plate 28 for adjusting screws 30 which extend upwardly from thebottom portion. Suitable nuts 27 are provided on the screws so that the upper-frame portion 13 may be locked at a desired elevation above the conveyor C. depending on the height of the cans being processed. I

A transverse pivot pin 10 is provided in the upper frame portion 13 and a detector arm- 12 is pivotally mounted on this pin for raising and lowering movement. The arm 12 carries a shaft 26 on which are rotat ably mounted a pair of transversely spaced detector wheels or rollers 23. The arm also carries a vertically sl idable detent in the form of a pin 7 equipped with nuts 6 which are engageable with the top of the arm to limit the extent of downward sliding of the detent pin 7. The

across the top of the plastic cap 33A until eventually the wheels 23 and the detent pin 7 have been cleared or passed by the moving can and the arm 12 drops to its lowered position. The auxiliary detent 20 is set sufficiently high to clear the cap 33A of the can and therefore does not interfere with its movement. Thus, the cans 33, properly equipped with the plastic caps 33A pass through the apparatus in an upright position and are moved by the conveyor C for further disposition the rim 42 at the rear side of the can and the detent pin 7 comes into engagement with the rim, as shown in FIG. 4. Continued movement of the can in the direction D then causes the detent pin 7to tip the can, and j turned over during slower conveyor speeds, the raised front side of the tipped can comes into engagement with the auxiliary detent 20 which serves to completely turn the can on its side on the conveyor. As the vertical dimension of the can increases during its tipping and turning over, the pin 19 which carries the detent 20 slides upwardly in the support 15.

It will be noted from the foregoing that the apparatus of the invention automatically detects capless' cans on the conveyor and turns them over on their side. Thereupon, suitable means (not shown) may be used to eject the turned over cans from the conveyor and return them to the capping machine.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown in preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: I

1. An apparatus for detecting and turning over capless cans in a row of capped cans traveling in an upright position on a conveyor, the cans having a closed top with an upwardly projecting annular rim normallycovered by a cap; said apparatus comprising a supporting frame adapted to be mounted alongside a can conveyor and project above the same, a detector arm pivotally mounted on said frame for raising and lowering movement, detector means on said arm adapted to engage and ride over a capped can while holding said arm in a raised position, and detent means on said arm adapted to engage the rim of a capless can and turn the can over when said arm is not held in its raised position by engagement of said detector means with a can cap. I

tector means comprise at least one detector wheel rotatably mounted on said arm.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first detent comprises a vertically adjustable pin mounted in said arm and projecting below the same. 

1. An apparatus for detecting and turning over capless cans in a row of capped cans traveling in an upright position on a conveyor, the cans having a closed top with an upwardly projecting annular rim normally covered by a cap; said apparatus comprising a supporting frame adapted to be mounted alongside a can conveyor and project above the same, a detector arm pivotally mounted on said frame for raising and lowering movement, detector means on said arm adapted to engage and ride over a capped can while holding said arm in a raised position, and detent means on said arm adapted to engage the rim of a capless can and turn the can over when said arm is not held in its raised position by engagement of said detector means with a can cap.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with an auxiliary detent provided on said frame upstream from said first mentioned detent, said auxiliary detent being engageable with a capless can tipped by the first detent complete turning over of the can.
 3. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means biasing said arm downwardly relative to said frame.
 4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said detector means comprise at least one detector wheel rotatably mounted on said arm.
 5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first detent comprises a vertically adjustable pin mounted in said arm and projecting below the same. 